Niger Requests EU Ambassador’s Replacement Amid Aid Dispute
Niger’s government has formally requested the European Union to replace its ambassador, Salvador Pinto da Franca, amid tensions over the distribution of emergency aid. The EU recalled da Franca on Saturday after Niger’s military rulers accused him of allocating €1.3 million in flood relief to NGOs without prior approval. The EU rejected these allegations, expressing “profound disagreement.”
On Sunday, Niger’s foreign ministry accused da Franca of continuing “unauthorized operations” despite previous warnings issued in October. The ministry declared that cooperation with the ambassador had become untenable and called for his replacement “as soon as possible.”
Since June, flooding in Niger has killed more than 300 people and displaced over 1.1 million. The government stated that it had not requested EU aid and would address the damage with its own resources.
Tensions between Niger and the EU have escalated since the July 2023 military coup, with the country distancing itself from both France and the European bloc.